InspireDesign: A New Story for the National
History comes to life yet again in Oklahoma City with the highly anticipated debut of the region’s restored crown jewel, The National, Autograph Collection, at the First National Center. The building originally opened in 1931 as an iconic bank and landmark monument, and stands proudly at 32-stories high to this day. Following an extensive restoration and one of the biggest renovations in the state’s history, the former bank office tower has been transformed into a hotel with 146 guestrooms alongside opulent new apartment homes, restaurants, bars and retail offerings.
Widely considered one of the region’s top architectural treasures, the First National Center is on the Historic Register and was once the largest building in Oklahoma. Oil drilling, the banking industry and the history of Oklahoma City’s tremendous growth and its arduous challenges are all woven into the fabric of The First National Center, reflecting the ‘Modern Frontier.’
This Spring, the First National Center is set to become Oklahoma City’s epicenter and ‘living room,’ reimagining the 1.1 million-sq.-ft. property into an Autograph Collection property, The First Residences at First National, Stock & Bond Steakhouse, Tellers Restaurant, The Great Hall bar, The Library of Distilled Spirits (in the bank vault), the National Ballroom, a barbershop and a blowout bar—all under one roof. The restoration efforts include repairs to murals, decorative painted ceilings, stone columns, cast stone, metal finishes, vault doors and safes. The Great Banking Hall has been fully restored and will be utilized as a public lobby. The basement and ground floor will encompass a mixture of high-end retail, multiple restaurants & bars and commercial spaces.
The National, operated by Coury Hospitality, comprising the first eight floors of the historic building will feature 146 guestrooms (including 16 suites and the signature Presidential Suite) designed with intent and raw elements from the former building’s previous life. As a unique reprieve for locals and travelers that celebrates the dynamism of the Oklahoma City community, the hotel rooms pay direct tribute to the original design elements found within the celebrated property, maintaining boutique charm with inspired touches.
Taking what was originally intended as office spaces for the former bank and many of the city’s most influential businesses, the rooms have been reimagined into detailed and sophisticated accommodations, featuring dark royal blue color palettes for a more intimate and inviting setting. Located on the third floor lives a 900-sq.-ft. Presidential Suite boasting a large dining table, high ceilings and multiple connecting rooms.
The intersection of old & new: intentional design
Redesigned and brought back to life by NE Development & Partners, ADG, Flick Mars Architects and EverGreene Architectural Arts (historical preservation specialists known for restoring the Jefferson Memorial), First National Center evokes a level of polished endurance and opulence felt immediately upon entering the building. Monumental in size and intricate in every detail, The National serves as a preserved hotel landmark and symbol of Oklahoma’s journey and its connection to its past with an art deco and neoclassical design aesthetic.
“A deeper dive into the existing building uncovered a mix of Art Deco and Neoclassical architectural styles mixed in grand fashion,” said James Flick, architect/partner, Flick Mars. “The Art Deco style was brought into the exterior, the barbershop where the mayor would hold ‘court,’ the elevator lobbies and the Beacon Club; grounded by a grand two-story neoclassic banking hall, adorned with oversize hand-painted murals with a hint of art deco stylization.”
Determined to breathe new life into the space and retain the existing structure, charm and bank artifacts from the 1930s, First National Center is an embodiment of the building’s noble legacy—a moment of civic and national pride for one of the finest examples of American craftsmanship.
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